Review: LG Connect 4G for MetroPCS

The LG Connect 4G is a close cousin to Sprint's forthcoming Viper. The MetroPCS variant is simple in its basic form and look. It's a slab-style smartphone with a medium-sized display and the usual black-and-gray coloring. At 11mm thick, it isn't the thinnest phone on the market, but it is a smidge shorter and narrower from side-to-side than many of the smartphones brought to market recently.

The Connect is comfortable to hold and use. Thanks to sloped side edges, the Connect sits firmly in your palm and it's a cinch to wrap your hand around it tightly. It feels dense and well put-together. It'll slip into a pocket no problem and won't stab you in the leg when getting out of a car or sitting on a couch.

The materials aren't top-notch, but they are far from cheap. The back surface has a nice textured finish to it that prevents the Connect from taking on that dreaded slippery feel. LG did a good job putting this phone together.

The only controls on the front are the standard Android buttons in capacitive form. I liked the slight haptic feedback they provide. It's not as intrusive as on other devices. The volume toggle is located on the left side of the Connect. It's a good button. The shape is excellent and lets users figure out which is up and which is down without any trouble. Travel and feedback are good. The microUSB port is positioned below the volume toggle.

The only other interruptions on the outside of the Connect are the lock button and the 3.5mm headset jack. Both are on top. I was not impressed by the lock button. It doesn't stand out enough from the surface of the Connect, and has mushy feedback, to boot. This is a vital button that I am surprised phone makers get wrong so often.

The battery cover encompasses the entire back surface of the Connect. It requires only a bit of thumbnail power to pry off. Underneath, the battery, microSIM, and microSD cards are all accessible. The microSD memory storage card can be swapped without pulling the power supply. The cover snaps back into place as easily as it comes off.

In all, the Connect has good hardware that doesn't get in the way of usability.